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SHANGHAI ARTS FESTIVAL
(article first published : 2000-06-9)

The 2nd Shanghai International Festival of Arts will be held in Shanghai, China from November 1 to December 1, 2000. The government-sponsored event is the biggest and only national-level international arts festival in China. Over 30 performances from China as well as foreign countries will be staged during the festival, part of which will be the The International Performing Arts Fair held from November 12 to 14 in Shanghai International Convention Centre.

Ten acknowledged international arts festival authorities will take part in the Performing Arts Fair which also sees the attendance of Chinese performing arts agencies, producers, performing troupes’ representatives and organisations involved in international cultural exchange. At last year’s inaugural festival, invited guests from South Africa were Jerry Mofokeng, artistic director of the State Theatre, and Dawn Weller, artistic director of the State Theatre Ballet. The direct result of this visit is the STB's tour to China in November 2000 and its performance at the Festival.

“Now we are calling for participation from South Africa for the Performing Arts Fair,” says Ms XU Rong of the Cultural Office of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa. “For those performing agencies, troupes, theatres and producers, the Performing Arts Fair is a golden opportunity to meet colleagues, make new friends, introduce yourself to all, select some programs from China and make plans for more exchange projects with China. And of course, a wonderful trip to Shanghai, the beautiful and vital port city in Southern-east China will surely leave you with an unforgettable oriental experience.”